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Couverture  endommagdo 


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to 


Th 
po 
of 
fill 


Or 
ba 
thi 
sic 
oti 
fir 
sic 
or 


Th 
sh 
Til 
w» 

Ml 
dif 
en 
be 
rig 
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This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

y 

12X 


,6X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Th«  copy  filmad  hera  hat  bean  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 


L'axamplaira  fllmA  fut  raproduit  grAca  6  la 
gAn6roait*  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 


Tha  imagas  appearing  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  Itaeping  with  tha 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Las  imagas  suivantas  ont  AtA  raproduites  avac  Ic 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nattetA  de  rexemplaira  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmaga. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  r'aga  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »-  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couvarture  en 
papier  est  imprimis  sont  filmAs  en  commen^ant 
par  la  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmis  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  das  symbolas  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


32X 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  ara  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


1 

2 

3 

■'■ 


f 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmis  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  la  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
raproduit  en  un  saul  clichA,  il  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'imagas  nAcessaira.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


Vol.. 


,<.i:;':Ai-/i. 


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VpONiA-VJR<^lN-KlJ:nN^'  7-"^: 


^^fir^ 


^''/^TwAvT  bvt  a.  JJngle  Roj-e. 

||  Till  You  OH  k  did  Breath 

%^,  Bvt  >rii\ce  ,v\e  thinkJ-,  it  J-how 

,?  Not  J'O  mvc>i  I^j-&  fvvT  ;^i 

'^21 Rrt«tncK. 


Vi>i..  LIX.— Nn.  349.  -a 


THE  IK^XORABLE  HUDSON  BAY  COMPAXY. 


IN  tlio  yciir  HwO  a  cliartcr  was  jfraiitcd 
hy  Kiiiy  C'liai'lcs  II.  l)y  wliicli  a  coiiipa- 
iiy,  calliiij."  lliciiisclvcs  '•The  Company  of 
AdvcMturcrs  from  Eiifilaiul  trading;  with 
Hudson's  Bay."  were  constituti'd  ahsol.ite 
pi'opi'it'tors  of  "all  the  lands  and  territo- 
ries npon  tlie  counti'ies,  eoasts,  and  con- 
lines  of  the  seas,  lakes,  bays,  rivers,  creeks, 
and  sounds,  in  whatsoever  latitude  they 
shall  he,  that  lie  hetween  the  entrance  of 
the  straits  called  Hudson's  Straits."  In 
return  for  all  this  the  Company  was  to 
pay  yearly  to  the  sovereifjn  two  elks  and 
two  hlack  heavers,  hut  this  only  whenever 
the  sovereign  sliould  liai)pen  to  he  within 
the  territories  yranted. 

Unfortiiiuitely  for  {iiis  exclusive  ])rivi- 
leffe  of  trade,  as  early  as  1(!4()  French  col- 
onists pushed  th(>ir  way  into  the  intei-ior 
fr(>m  Lake  Superior,  across  the  valley  of 
the  lied  Kiver.  and  up  the  <>'reat  Saskatch- 
■wan  Kiver.  They  established  their  posts 
at  every  available  ])oint,  and  intercepted 
the  Indians  on  their  way  to  trade  their 
furs  with  the  ayents  of  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company  at  their  factories,  which,  for 
more  than  a  century  after  the  date  of  the 
chartei',  do  not  ai)j)ear  to  have  extended 
very  far  beyond  the  sea-coast.  In  the  year 
\7H'.i  a  cond)inatioii  of  these  fur  traders 
jrave  rise  to  the  ""  Nortliwe.st  Company  of 
Montreal."  This  company  is  said  to  have 
emjjloyed  about ;")()()()  men  alto<?ether  in  its 
service  at  this  time.  With  its  orfranization 
hostilities  broke  out  tx'tween  the  agents  of 
the  rival  coi'])orations.  For  nioi-e  than  for- 
ty years  the  conflict  raji'ed  over  a  larfje 
l»art  of  North  America.  It  was  a  {golden 
era  for  the  red  man.  Rival  traders  sought 
him  out,  coaxed  and  bribed  him  to  have 
nothin;^'  to  do  with  the  sliop  aci'oss  the 
way,  assur(>d  him  that  Codlin,  not  Short, 
was  his  friend,  paid  him  an  extrava^rant 
price  for  his  furs,  and,  better  still,  i)aid 
that  price  in  rum. 

So  wretched  at  last  di<l  the  jreneral  con- 
dition of  the  territory  become  tliat  efforts 
were  made  to  brinjr  the  traders  to  an  am- 
ical)le  settlement  and  union  of  interests. 
Under  conditions  satisfactory  to  both  ])ar- 
ties,  a  coalition  was  formed  in  1H21.  by 
which  the  Northwest  Company  ceased  to 
exist,  and  henceforth  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company  ruled  su])renie  from  the  .shores 
of  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.  At  tlie  suff- 
^'•estion  of  the  British  <rovernment.  Parlia- 


ment conferred  ujion  the  new  Conijiany 
])rivile<j:es  of  exclusive  trade  over  a  iai'ye 
tract  of •  Indian  countiw  not  included  in 
their  own  chartered  territories,  tenable  for 
a  term  of  twenty  years.  In  1S.'{8  these 
pi'ivih'O'cs  were  aji'ain  exlended  for  a  fur- 
ther tei'm  of  twenty  years,  at  the  exj)ira- 
tion  of  which  the  recjuest  for  their  reiu'w- 
al  was  denied.  In  IW!!)  the  Company's 
riffhls  to  all  the  territory  held  under  its 
charter  were  l)oufiht  up,  iin(l(>r  imjM'rial 
authority,  by  the  Dominion  of  Canada. 
and  tlie  Company,  as  a  monopcjly  and 
semi-sovereifjfn  ])ow('r.  ceased  to  exist.  Not 
so  its  oi'jranization.  however,  or  the  intlu- 
eiu'c  and  extent  of  its  operations. 

The  sui)reme  control  of  Hudson  Bay 
affairs  is  vested,  under  the  charter,  in  a 
Governor.  Dt'inity-Governor.  and  commit- 
ti'e  of  live  directors,  all  annually  chosen 
by  the  stockholders  at  a  general  meetinj;- 
held  each  November.  These  functiona- 
ries. residin<r  in  London,  delefi'ate  their 
authority  to  an  othcial  resident  in  their 
American  possessions,  called  the  Governor 
of  Riii)ert  Land,  who  acts  as  their  re])- 
resentative.  The  authority  of  the  Gov- 
ernor is  supreme,  except  du'Muf;-  the  ses- 
sion of  his  Council,  which  is  held  once  a 
,vear,  and  continues  its  formal  sittings  for 
two  or  three  days. 

The  other  ])arties  to  the  Council  are  the 
nuMubers  of  the  "  Fur  Trade."  which  con- 
stitutes, in  its  relations  to  tlie  Hudson 
Bay  Com))aiiy,  the  wheel  within  the 
wheel.  From  this  the  in-olits  of  the  Com- 
]>aiiy  may  be  said  to  be  entirely  derived. 
It  constitutes  the  means  I)y  which  the 
Company  avails  itself  of  the  rifrht  to  trade, 
which  it  ))()ssesses  in  its  teri-itories.  Tlie 
members  of  the  Fur  Triide  reside  entirely 
in  the  localities  where  the  business  is  car- 
ried on  in  North  America,  and  are  em- 
ployed in  carryiiij?  out  its  actual  work- 
injrs.  They  are  composed  of  the  two 
hifjhest  (Trades  of  commissioned  otiicers. 
called  Chief  Factors  and  Chief  Traders. 
Tlie.se  furnish  none  of  the  capital  stock, 
and  receive  their  commissions  merely  as 
the  rewards  of  loiifr  service,  seldom  of 
shorter  date  than  fourteen  years,  as  clerks. 
No  annual  election  of  officials  formiiifj: 
any  thiiifr  like  the  Company's  London 
Board  takes  ])lace  amoiifi;  tlie  partners  of 
the  Fur  Trade.  The  only  approximation 
to  a  c(mimon  action  which  exists  is  af- 


<  » 


'\ 


\ 


\ 


THE  HONORABLE  HUDSON  BAY  COMPANY, 


in 


Tin;   lllVAL   COMl'A.MHH   BOMCITINU   Tlt.VDK  A   IIUNKUKI)   Vl'.Altb   A(i(>. 


1  « 


l'()r(l(>(l  by  (ho  iiiiimal  mcotiiiji's  of  tlio 
(*()iiiu'il  bcfoiT  irf(>rreil  to.  wliicli  all  Chief 
Factors  and  Chiof  Traders  arc  entitled  to 
attend.  Afi:ain,  the  Board  in  London  have 
a  s])e;'ial  r(>])r(>sentative  in  Rupert  TiUnd 
in  the  i)erson  of  the  Oovernor.  He  is 
])r(>sident  of  the  couneils  of  otHeors  held 
in  the  country,  and  there  is  no  instance 
of  his  havinjr  been  outvoted  or  his  action 
set  aside  by  any  such  body.  On  the  oth- 
er hand,  the  P'ur  Trade  has  no  rejjresenta- 
tiv(>  at  the  house  in  London.  An  annual 
dis]»atch  is  addressed  l»y  the  London  Board 
to  the  Council  of  the  Northern  De])art- 
nient.  This  constitutes  the  sole  occasion 
on  which  the  Company  as  a.  body  a])- 
))roa('hes  the  Fur  Trade  as  a  body  in  the 
whole  course  of  their  busiiu'ss. 

The  partners  of  the  Fur  Trade  are  con- 
nected with  the  Conii)any  under  sucl;  pro- 
visions that  their  ini'omes  tluctuate  with 
the  alterations  of  the  annual  profits  of  the 


trade 


A  detiuite  numbe.*  of  shares  com- 


poses their  affo-rofrate  interest.  Of  these, 
a  Chief  Trader  ])osspsses  one.  and  a  Chief 
Factor  two.  Vacancies  in  tlieir  ranks  are 
immediately  tilled  u])  as  they  occur  from 
the  death  or  i-etirement  of  the  ni(Mnl)ers. 
the  qualitication  necessary  to  ol)tain  the 
conunission  beinjj  a  majority  of  all  the 
votes  of  all  the  Chief  Factors.'  The  candi- 
dates for  a  factorshi])  are  necessarily  Trad- 
ers, while  those  for  a  vacant  tradership 
are  from  the  ranks  of  salaried  clerks,  sel- 
dom of  less  than  fourteen  years'  standing; 
in  the  service. 

Althou<;h  the  Hudson  Bay  Comi)any  is 
itself  an  entirely  Enjrlish  corjxiration.  its 
othcers  in  the  fur  country  are  nearly  all 
Scotsmen  or  natives  of  the  Orkney  Isl 
ands.  Ai)plicants  are  enlisted  at  an  early 
ajre — from  sixteen  to  eifjliteen — for  a  nom- 
inal term  of  Hve  years  thoujrh  the  more 
distinct  understandiuij  is  that  the  a])pli- 
caut  shall  devote  his  life  to  the  busim>ss. 
At  certain  periods  a  requisition  is  foi-ward- 


Hi  Stir.  8 


lb 


c 


20 


HARPER'S  NEW  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE. 


I'd  from  tlio  fur  fountry  for  iulditioiiul 
li('l|).  iiiid  tlif  siu'ccssrul  cuiuUdiitc  is  snit 
by  rctui'ii  packol  to  York  Factory,  on  Hud- 
son Bay.  His  salary  bofiins  u])on  the  dato 
of  Ids  d('])artur('  fri)ni  Loudon,  llic  suui 
paid  tluriuy  the  tir.st  live  ycai's  of  apprcn- 
ticcsinp  raiiji'iuj;'  from  t!2()  to  l^.")!)  sterling, 
toyctiu'r  witii  rations,  (juarters,  and  (dotli- 
in^  from  the  Company's  slioj)  at  <'()st  and 
ten  iH'i-  rcuttim.  From  York  Factory  lie 
is  ji'i'uci'ally  scut  to  ])ass  his  ai)i)i"futic('sldp 
in  tlic  extreme  uortlu'vu  districts,  \vlu>re, 
after  a  term  of  service,  rau<jfinji'  from  four- 
teen years  and  upward,  duriiij^'  wiiicii  liis 


Hr"___ 


tiKt\ 


ARRIVAI,  OK  THE  UKIUK  KLKOT. 


salary  lias  increased  from  £20  to  £100  ster- 
ling, and  he  has  passed  by  a  series  of  trans- 
fers from  the  remote  and  unimportant  post 
whence  he  started  to  the  ])osition  of  ae- 
coumant  in  one  of  the  great  depot  forts, 
he  slips  from  the  ranks  of  .salaried  men 
into  the  partnership  of  the  Fur  Trade  as 
Chief  Trader,  and  is  placed  in  charge  of 


sonu'  important  |)ost.  He  has  ])assed  in 
the  line  of  ))romotion  a  class  of  clerks 
known  as  "  post-masters."  These  ai'c  usu- 
ally ])romoted  laborers,  who  for  good  be- 
havior or  Cailhful  service  have  been  part- 
ly ])Ut  on  a  footing  with  the  gentlemen  of 
the  service,  but  who  lack  the  necessary  ed- 
ucation to  successfully  competi^  with  the 
Scotch  imi)ortati:)ns.  Below  thest;  still 
are  the  interpreters,  who  for  the  most  |)art. 
are  mor(>  than  ordinarily  intelligent  lab(»r- 
ers  of  i)retty  long  standing  in  the  .service, 
and  who,  having  obtained  some  kiu)wi- 
edge  of  the  Indian  tongues,  are  found  use- 
ful in  trading  with  the  natives.  Of  a  still 
lower  grades  are  the  laborei'S,  voyageurs, 
an<l  luniters. 

Death  or  retirement  ne.xt  ojiens  th(>  way 
for  the  Trader's  advancement  to  the  rank 
of  Chief  Factor,  the  highest  otiice  undei- 
the  (jovernor,  to  which  any  one  can  i-i.se 
in  the  service.  In  the  exerci.se  of  the 
functions  of  this  ollice  he  assumes  control 
of  a  district  often  as  large  as  a  Euro])ean 
kingdom,  with  head-ciuarters  at  th(^  largest 
l)ost  within  its  Hunts,  and  a  general  super- 
vision of  all  the  other  ])()sts. 

Th(?  great  majority  of  the  Com])any's 
otiicers  marry  natives  of  the  country,  hav- 
ing first  to  obtain  the  consent  of  the  Gov- 
ernor, as  rations,  cjuarters,  etc.,  are  fur- 
nished the  fannly  ecjualiy  with  themselves. 
But  it  occasionally  occurs  that  some  gen- 
tleman of  independent  taste  tui-ns  up  who 
l)refers  a  wife  from  the  old  country.  For 
such  emei'gencies  ])rovisi()n  is  made  in  the 
l)aternal  charactei"  of  the  Com])any.  Th(> 
fastidious  lover  sends  an  order  to  the  house 
in  London,  with  the  special  characteristics 
he  desires  in  a  life  partner.  TIk'  Company 
selects  such  a  one  as  it  may  deem  suitable 
from  the  list  of  can<lidates  always  ready, 
and  forwards  her,  duly  invoiced.  Upon 
her  arrival  she  is  married  out  of  haiul. 
Many  of  the  servants  of  the  Comjjany 
whose  lives  have  been  pas.sed  in  the  serv- 
ice retire  to  end  their  days  at  Fori  Gari-y, 
in  the  new  provinces  of  Manitoba,  forming 
among  themselves  a  society  constituting 
the  aristocracy  of  the  wilderness. 

The  enormous  extent  of  the  territory 
over  which  the  Hudson  Bay  Company 
carries  on  its  trade,  and  throughout  which 
dejjots  and  ])osts  are  established,  can  scarce- 
ly he  comprehended  at  a  merely  cur.sory 
glance.  From  Pembina,  on  the  Red  Riv- 
er, to  Fort  Anderison,  on  the  Mackenzie, 
is  as  great  a  distance  as  from  London  to 
^lecca;  the  space  between  the  Company's 


^m 


^mmm^ 


THE  HONORABLE  HUDSON  liAY  COMPANY. 


21 


1  ill 

■rks 

ISll- 
1.0- 

>ai't- 
n  of 

.■(I 

llic 
still 

liii't. 

lor- 
vicc, 

l)\Vl- 
1IS<'- 

still 
urs. 


^A^J'lil' 


^^ 


llALK-liRKKl)    lAMILY    ON    TlIK    WAY    Hi    A    TUADINO    TOBT. 


post  at  S'-iult  Ste.  Marie  and  Fort  Sini))- 
soii,  oil  the  Pacific,  inoasuiTs  more  tliaii 
251)0  fifeofrrapliical  niilos;  from  tlio  Kiiiy^'s 
Posts  to  t'le  Pelly  Banks  is  farther  than 
fi'oni  Paris  to  Sainarcaiid.  Tlic  area  of 
country  under  its  inuuediate  iiitliienee  is 
tihoiit  1,500,000  siiuare  miles,  or  more  than 
one-third  f^reater  than  the  whole  extent 
of  Europe. 

For  purposes  of  trade  th(>  orifjfinal  char- 
tered territories  of  tlie  Comj.an.v,  and  tl)e 
vast  outlyinjy  circuit  of  commercial  rela- 
tions, are  divided  into  sections  called  the 
Northern,  Southern.  Montreal,  and  West- 
ern departments.  Of  these,  the  Northern 
Department  is  situated  hetween  Hudson 
Ba,yand  the  Rock,v  Mountains;  the  South- 
ern hetween  James  Bay  and  Canada,  iii- 
cludins'  also  East  ]\Iain,  on  the  eastern 
sliore  of  Hudson  Ba,v;  the  Montreal  De- 
partment comprehends  tlie  extent  of  the 
business  in  the  Canadas;  while  the  West- 


ern <'ompi'ises  the  rejjions  west  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains.  These  four  depart- 
ments are  a^i'ain  divided  into  tifty-three 
smaller  portions,  called  districts,  each  of 
which  is  under  the  direc- 
tion of  a  su])erintcndinj; 
otHcer,  and  has  a  depot 
fort,  to  which  all  the  sup- 
plies for  the  district  are 
forwarded,  and  to  w  lii<'h 
all  furs  and  other  piod- 
uce  are  sent  for  ship- 
ment toKnyland.  Tliesi- 
districts  ai'c  a^'^ain  suh- 
divided  into  innnci'ous 
minor  estahlishments, 
forts,  ])osts,  and  out- 
posts. Over  each  of 
these  there  is  an  dllicer 
and  from  two  to  forl.y 
men,  incchanics,  lalior- 
e!'s,  and  servants.  15<'- 
sid(  s,  the  Conijiany  em- 
ploys nniltitudes  of  men 
as  vo.vaji'eurs,  jnanninf>" 
and  working  tlu'  l)oats 
and  canoes  in  evi'i',v  jiart 
of  the  territory.  The 
disci))line  and  e1i(|ue1te 
maintained  are  of  the 
strictest  kind,  and  an 
espi'i't  (III  rarjiN  exists 
between  tlie  three  tlmii- 
se.nd  oilicei's  — coniinis- 
sioned  and  non-commis- 
sioned— vo.vaffeuis,  and 
servants  sucli  as  is  onl.v 
to  he  found  in  the  army,  or  in  an  ancient 
and  honorable  service. 

The  forts  and  tradiiifj  posts  of  the  Com- 
pany are  scattered  over  its  inimenKO  terri- 
tories at  distances  a]iart  varying  from 
[ift,v  to  three  hundred  miles.  A  better 
idea  ma,v,  perhaps,  he  ol)tained  of  tlieir 
relative  [.ositions,  and  of  the  isolated  lives 
of  their  <i'arrisons,  by  imafrininji:  the  broad 
State  of  (?)bio  j.lantcd  in  the  ntiddl(>  of  the 
fur  country.  In  that  event  the  Comjiany 
would  build  one  tradiiifr  post  in  it. 

The  t(nni  lort,  as  ap)tlied  to  the  estab- 
lishments of  the  Conii)an,y,  and  su<2'<!fest- 
injr  a  formidable  arra.v  of  ram])art,  bas- 
tion, loop-holed  Avail,  and  fortalice,  is  a 
misnomer,  there  beinj?  only  two  or  three 
in  the  whole  fur  cinintry  at  all  worth.v 
of  the  name.  Ui)i)er  and  Lower  Forts 
Oari'.v  are  veritable  forts,  surrounded  b,v 
stone  walls,  with  bastions  at  each  of  the 
four  corners. 


C 


ti 


harpp:r's  new  monthly  magazine. 


Tlic  ti'adiii^'  iiiid  iiitci'ior  (h'-pot  posts  ot 
till'  (."oiupaiiy  ai'f  sti-iui^jc,  (|ii:iiiit-loi>l<iiiy 
places,  l)iiilt  accoriliiij,''  t()  a  ^ciH'ral  lypt'. 
Tlii'.v  stand  jfciici'ally  upon  llic  second  or 
lower  l)anl\  of  some  naviji'ahle  river  or 
lake,  so  as  to  i)e  easily  accessible  to  the 
boats  Nsiucli  annnally  visit  tlieni  with 
sn])|)lies.  A  Iradin;^'  post  is  invariably  a 
stiuare.  inclosed  by  innnense  trees  or  |»icU- 
ets,  one  end  suidi  deeply  in  the  yronnd, 
and  placed  close  toffether.  A  platt'orni, 
about  the  height  of  an  ordinary  man,  is 
carried  alony'  tlie  inner  side  of  tiie  sqnare, 
so  as  to  t'nable  any  one  to  pei-j)  over  with- 
out dan^rer  from  arrow  or  bullet.  At  the 
four  corners  are  l)astions,  ocfa^joinil  in 
slia|)e,  piei'ced  with  (Mnl)r)isures,  to  lead 
tile  Indians  to  believe  in  the  exist(>nce  of 
cannon,  and  intended  to  strike  terror  to 
,iny  i'ed-s!<inne(l  rel)el  lold  enouji'h  to  dis- 
pute t  lie  supremac.','  of  the  Company.  The 
entrance  to  the  sto(d<ade  is  (dosed  by  two 
massive  <i'ates,  an  inner  and  an  outer  one. 
[n  the  centre  of  the  stpiare  sliuuls  the  res- 
idence of  tlie  factor  or  trader  in  (diai'ji'e, 
and  of  the  up|)i'r  (dass  of  employes,  while 
about  its  four  sides,  (dose  to  the  stock- 
ade, are  ran<i:ed  the  trading  stoi'e,  the  fui-- 
room,  the  warehouses,  servants'  cpiarters. 
etc.  Beside  tia^  larger  dwidlinu'  rises  a 
tall  fla<;'-statV,  bearinj;'  the  Hay  of  the  Com- 
pany, with  its  stranjye  device,  "Pro  fwllc 
ciifcni" — skin  for  skin  — and  mnirbyal)(dl 
tower,   tlu^   tones    fi  Mi(di    mark   the 

hours  of  labor  and  In  front  of  the 

i^'ate  lounii'e  a  few  hall  ..reeds  or  Indians 
in  tasselled  cap  and  dii'ty  white  ca])ote,  or 
tattered  blankets.  A  band  of  horses  yraze 
in  a  distant  meadow,  while  nearer  by  a 
few  leather  tvpecs,  or  bark  lodji'es,  from 
the  fi'illed  poles  of  whi(di  the  smoke  curls 
lazily,  ,ndicat(>the  home  of  the  aboriiiinal 
banLfer-on.  At  one  side  of  the  ])alisade  a 
few  rude  cros.ses  or  wooden  railinfi's,  stain- 
ed by  raiu  and  snow-drift,  and  blown  over 
by  the  teni[)est,  mark  the  last  resliur;:- 
places  of  the  dead. 

The  trade-rooms  at  all  the  posts  are  ar- 
i-anyed  with  strict  refen^iice  to  the  wants 
of  the  peculiar  custom  which  they  atti'act. 
From  tiio  heavy  .joists  of  th(>  low  ceilinfr 
di^l)end  twine,  steel-trajjs,  tin  kettles,  fi-y- 
iny-pans,  etc. ;  on  various  shelves  are  ])iled 
bales  of  cloth  of  all  colors.  ca])otes,  ])lank- 
ets,  and  cai)s;  and  in  smaller  divisions  are 
]>laced  Hh>s,  .scal))inff-knives,  pun  .sci'^ws. 
flints,  balls  of  twine,  fire  steels,  canoe 
awls,  and  pi'lass  beads  of  all  colors  and 
sizes.     Drawers   in   the  counter   contain 


needles,  pins,  seissoi's,  lish  hook's,  thim- 
bles, and  vernnlion  for  painting  canoes 
and  faces.  ( )n  the  lloor  is  strewn  a  vari- 
et.v  of  copper  kettles,  from  half  a  pint  to 
a  ji'allon;  and  in  one  cornei-  of  the  room 
stand  a  dozen  trading -i>'nns,  and  beside 
them  a  Iceji-  of  powdei-  and  a  ba;^'  of  slu)!. 

In  some  of  the  trade-i'ooms  a  small 
space  is  railed  oil'  by  the  countei'  near  the 
door,  behind  winch  the  Indians  stand  to 
trade.  Sometimes  tbe.v  are  confined  to 
a  sepai'atc  apartment,  called  th(>  Indian- 
room,  ad.joiniufi'  that  oc(  upied  b.v  the 
traders,  and  business  is  carried  on  tln'ouyli 
a  loop  hole  communicating  between  the 
two.  In  man.v  of  the  i)osts  in  the  |)lain 
counli'.v  the  trade-room  is  (deverly  con- 
trived so  as  to  prevent  a  sudden  rush  of 
the  Indians,  the  ajjproach  from  outside 
the  pickets  beinn-  Ihrouii'b  a  lonji'  narrow 
passage,  onl.v  of  snilicient  width  to  admit 
of  one  Indian  at  a  time,  and  bent  at  an 
acute  anji'le  near  the  window  at  whi(di 
the  trader  stands.  This  jjrecaution  is 
rendered  neces.sar.N'  by  the  fi'antic  desire 
wbicdi  sometimes  seizes  n])on  the  Indian 
to  shoot  the  (derk,  which  he  nn^'ht  easil.v 
do  were  the  passayc  straijiht. 

At  most  of  the  interior  posts  time  moves 
slowl.v.  and  (dianjic  is  almost  unknown. 
To-da.v  is  the  same  as  a  hundred  yeai's  aji'o. 
The  list  of  <yoods  ordered  from  Enjjland 
for  this  veai-  has  exactl.v  the  .same  items 
as  that  of  l7Ti).  Strands,  cottons,  beads, 
and  tradinjj'-fi'uns  ai-e  still  the  wants  of  the 
•^ndians.  and  are  still  traded  for  mu,s({uash 
and  beaver. 

The  s.vstem  of  trade  at  the  C()m])an,v"s 
posts  is  entir(d,y  one  of  barter.  Until  r(v 
cent  .years  money  values  were  unknown  ; 
but  this  medium  of  exchanjic  has  {^radual- 
l.v  become  familiar  to  the  Indians,  and  the 
almijiht.v  dollar  is  ra])idly  asserting  its  su- 
|)remac.v  in  savajj^edom. 

The  standard  of  values  throughout  the 
fur  countrv  is  still,  however,  the  skin  of 
the  l)eaver,  b.y  whitdi  the  jjrice  of  all  furs 
and  articles  of  trade  is  re<,''ulated.  To  ex- 
])lain :  suppose  that  four  beavers  are  (equiv- 
alent in  value  to  a  silver-fox  skin,  two 
martens  to  a  beaver,  twent.v  nuisk-rats  to 
a  marten,  and  so  on.  The  Ci'ow's  Claw  or 
the  Man-with-Feathers  wishes  to  ]nu'chase 
a  blaidcet  or  a  pun  from  the  Compan.v ;  he 
would  have  to  jiive,  sa.v,  three  silver- foxes, 
or  twenty  beaver  skins,  or  200  nnisk-rats, 
or  other  furs,  accordinj?  to  their  relative 
position  of  worth  in  the  taritl".  Has  he  a 
horse  valued  at  sixty  skins,  he  would  trade 


'i 
] 


J 


m 


"or 


\ 


TUK  11()N()UA15LK  HUDSON   HAY  fOMrANV 


a.i 


lliini- 

(■illincs 

ii  viii'i- 

|iiiil   to 

•  room 

l)(',si(l(> 

sliot. 

small 

ifjii"  till' 

titiid  to 

iiH'd    to 

llHlillM- 

hy    the 

ii'duyh 

v\\   tli<> 

'  plain 

ly  con- 

riisli  of 

outside 

Marrow 

i>  admit 

lit  at  ail 

wliicli 

itioii    is 

dcsii'c 

Indian 

it  casilv 


it  thns;  a  j;nn.  liftccti  skins;  a  caiiotc,  ten 
skins;  a  blanket,  ten  skins;  liall  and  pow- 
dci'.  ten  skins;  tohaci'o.  lil'lci'ii  skins  to- 
tal, sixty  skins.  So  any  .servit'c  iTiulcrcd 
or  labor  performed  by  the  Indians  is  paid 
for  ill  skins,  tlie  beaver  beinji'  the  unit  of 
conipiiliilion. 

For  a  very  evident  reason  the  jn-iee  paid 
for  furs  is  not  lixed  in  strict  accordance 


mild  and  eipiitable  sway;  in  the  latter,  in 
dependent  Indians,  roaming'' tiie  plains  in 
!;real  i)ands,  a I'e  too  st  ronj;'  to  be  controlled 
by  the  haiidfuls  of  men  at  the  forts.  l'"or 
this  reason  the  trading'  |)osts  in  the  plain 
country  are  <lefended  by  stout  and  lofty 
stockades,  and  every  precaiilioii  taken  ti> 
ji'iiai'd  ayaiiis)  a  siirjirise  diirin;,''  the  proy' 
ress  of  a  tra<le.  foi  the  wilv  HIackfeet  and 


Tli.\IIU-UUU.U,  IIUDHO.N    IIAV    UD.Ml'ANYa    KJV.t,   IN    IIIK    I'l.Al.N    OUU.NTUV. 


witli  their  intrinsic  valut\  If  it  were  .so, 
all  the  valuable  fni'-beavinj::  animals  wonid 
soon  become  extinct,  as  no  Indian  woiilil 
bother  himself  to  trap  n  clieaj)  fur  while  a 
hiji'li-priced  one  i-emained  Hncaui>'ht. 

The  iiiannei'  in  which  trade  is  conduct- 
ed by  the  Company  ditl'ers  radically  in  the 
Xortherii  and  Southern  districts,  owinjf  to 
Ihediiferent  habits  and  disi)ositi()ns  of  the 
Indians,  those  of  the  formei' beinji' solitary 
hunters  and  tra]t])ers  on  foot,  and  those  of 
the  lattcv  i'.  race  of  yrejrarious  horsemen. 
From  til.'  Northern  or  wood  Indians 
<'oiiii's  t'.ie  <ri'eatei'  part  of  the  trade  in 
line  fus,  while  the  line  of  forts  alons>'  the 
Saskatchewan  and  in  the  iilain  country 
furnishes  tlie  coarser  furs,  bufl'alo-robes, 
leather,  pemniioan,  and  other  provisions. 
In  the  former  cimntry  the  Company  is 
all-powerful,  and  rules  its  subjects  with  a 


Crees embract^  (n'ery  opportunity  of  takiny 
|)ossession  of  a  tradin;;'  ])ost.  and  ]iel|)in<i 
themselves  to  its  contents.  Bars,  bolts, 
and  jilaces  to  lire  down  upon  the  Indians 
abound  in  every  direction. 

The  scenes  presented  durinji'  the  ])r()fr- 
ress  of  a  plain  Indian  trade  are  very  pic- 
turcscjue  and  excitiny.  A  week  or  mor<> 
previous  to  the  ti'ade  there  a])])ear  at  the 
fort  two  or  three  Indians,  who  announce 
themselves  as  the  advance  a<j;ents  of  their 
hand,  and  authorized  to  neffotiate  with  the 
oflicer  in  charfje  for  the  trade  of  their  pcd- 
tries,  robes,  and  ])rovisi()ns.  They  arc^ 
shown  into  the  Indian-room,  wliei'e  they 
are  handsonu^ly  entertained,  and  made  the 
recipients  of  presents  according'  to  their 
rank  and  the  anticipated  value  of  the 
trade. 

On  the  day  appointed  for  the  trade  there 


k 


c 


'l\ 


IIARI'F'IRS  NEW  MONTIU.Y  MAGAZINE. 


TIIF.    I'Al.AVltK  — A    IIKAU    I'Cl.NY. 


iijipi'm's  iiioviiin-  over  the  i)laiii  a  iiiotltn' 
crowd  of  Iiidiinis.  sciuinvs,  <lotj:s.  and  Ira- 
vaillt's,  Ascpi'taiiiiiiii'  lliat  iioiic  of  tlicir 
ciiiMuii's  arc  in  sijilit,  tlioy  at  onco  ]»itcli 
tlu'ii-  camp  at  a  littlo  distance  from  the 
fort,  a  few  of  lilt'  braves  ridinir  uj)  to  lt>arn 
whetiiei'  tlie  ])ost  is  in  readiness  for  the 
trade. 

I'pon  theii"  lirst  ajiiiearanee  every  thinjr 
has  hcen  made  ready  for  tlieir  reception, 
(tuns  liave  been  load<>d  and  placed  at  the 
h)op-holes  <'on\mandiii<j  tlie  Indian  and 
trade  rooms;  all  the  <rates  of  the  stout 
loir  stockade  have  been  securely  fastened. 
Ki'om  the  shelves  of  the  trade-room  a 
L'rcater  ])art  of  the  troixls  have  been  tak- 
en. leaviniT  only  a  few  blankets,  strands. 
•:uns,  and  a  littl(»  Ww  and  sn<rar.  This  is 
mH'(>ssitated  by  the  fact  t!.at  the  untutored 
Indian,  unaccustomed  to  the  siji'lit  of  so 
riuich  linery.  is  apt  to  hi'liave  much  in  the 
manner  of  a  hungry  boy  ])lacod  beliind 
the  counter  of  a  pastry-cook's  shop,  to  the 


utter  onllajise  of  all  i)rofit  ujion  the  trade 
to  the  Hudson  Bay  C'om])any.  All  com 
imniication  between  the  Indian  and  trade 
rooms  and  other  parts  of  the  buildinji'  is 
closed,  and  there  remains  for  the  use  of 
the  customers  only  the  nari'ow  ])assat;'e 
leadinjx  from  the  outer  jrate  of  the  stock- 
ade to  the  Indian-room,  the  Indian-room 
itself,  and  the  narrow  hallway  between 
it  aiul  the  trade-room.  This  latter  is  fur- 
nished with  two  heavy  doors,  and  the 
s])ace  between  them  will  hold  from  two 
to  four  Indians.  In  trading!,  but  two  per- 
sons are  admitted  into  the  trad<'-room  at 
a  lime,  in  the  foUowinji:  manner: 

The  passage  door  commmiicatinp:  with 
the  Indian-room  is  o])ened.  and  two  In- 
dians admitted  therein:  then  it  is  closed, 
aiul  the  d(V)r  leading'  into  the  trade-room 
opened.  When  the  two  braves  have  fin- 
ished tradin<r..they  are  returned  l)y  u  sim- 
ilar process,  one  door  always  beinjr  kept 
shut.      Both  these  doors  are  made  to  slide 


I 


TllK  IIONOKAUI.K  HUDSON  liAY  COMPANY. 


2:i 


into  tlicir  idiiccs,  mnl  sire  tnntiipulatcd 
fivmi  tlir  ;i|)in'tiii('iil  (icciipii'd  \>y  tlic 
Iriulci's. 

The  tradf-i'ooiii  is  dividfil  !>y  a  slout 
partition,  pcacliinj;  I'imuu  lloor  to  ct'iiinj;, 
into  two  pai'Is.  one  f  >r  tlic  ti'adci's  and 
jroods.  tlic  otiicr  for  liii'  Indians.  In  tlic 
ccntiT  of  this  partition  an  apci'lnrc  idionl 
u  yafd  s(|iiui'c  is  cut.  divided  l)y  a  „  atiny 


As  soon  as  the  advance  truai'<l  of  Indiiuis 
approach,  tiic  trader  accompanies  Iheni  to 
camp,  where  a  ^-'eneral  palaver  he;;-iris. 
Many  speeciies  are  made  on  holh  sides,  (he 
Indians  prom;  lin^'  to  conduct  the  trade  in 
till'  most  pciiceaiile  and  orderly  manner, 
the  whole  all'air  terminating  hy  the  chief 
loadiii;;'  a  pony  with  a  ireiieral  assortment 
of   rohes.   pennnican.  dressed   skins,  etc.. 


K'-^^: 


A    TltAl'l'KIt    UIIINU    IIIH    liOlIMDH. 


into  squares  sufficiently  \tu'<ro  to  admit  the 
passaf^e  of  a  Idanket  or  robe,  but  inade- 
quate to  tli(>  admission  of  the  red  man  in 
person.  This  is  nc  "ssitated  by  tiie  In- 
dian's forfyetfulnc  )f  the  existence  of 
counters,  and  the  exasperatinfjf  pertinacity 
with  wlncli  lie  insi.sts  upon  a  ))ers()nal  ex- 
amination of  the  jyoods.  It  sometimes 
happens,  too,  that  he  express:  s  liis  dissat- 
isfaction at  tlie  price  of  a  nuicli-coveted 
article  by  desultory  firin<T  at  the  jjersoji 
of  the  tradcM',  who,  in  the  absence  of  such 
partition,  has  no  means  of  escape  or  coii- 
ccalnient. 


and  handinn^  horse  and  all  he  carries  over 
to  the  trader.  This  is  the  usual  Indian 
method  of  becrinniiifra  trade,  and  has  only 
one  drawback — the  trader  is  ex])ected  to 
return  a  ])resent  of  twice  the  value.  And 
it  is  certain  that  if  in  the  trade  which  en- 
sues the  trader  buys  a  hmulred  horses, 
not  one  will  cost  him  half  so  dear  as  that 
which  demonstrates  the  larfje-heartedness 
of  the  chief.  After  the  trader  has,  in  turn, 
shown  the  bip^ness  of  his  heart  by  an  ample 
present  of  blankets  and  finery,  the  braves 
and  sipiaws  move  up  to  the  fort  with  their 
provisions  and  ijoltries,  the  trade  having 


~KJ. '  ■  -  '--'-■•:•■:  i!;i*I''',''iL*ts.  ).j  j'wi 


2« 


llARl'KKS  NEW  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE. 


iittsv  fiiii'ly  hcyiin.  Tlic  cliiof  ("xliorts  his 
lii'iivcs  to  coiKliict  tlicnisclvcs  pcacciihly, 
ami  not  make  liiiii  tli(>  possessor  of  a  fork- 
ed loii^i'iic  l>y  had  i'oiidiict.  Then  the  outer 
yfate  is  tlirowii  open,  and  tlie  eajjer  throiin' 
rnslies  in,  every  pian  in  tiie  post  iK'inji'  at 
his  pla<'(>  and  ready  for  any  tiiinff  tiiat  >iay 
turn  up. 

Tile  Indiau-rooni  h(Mu<i'  now  liiied  witli 
tile  eseited  crowd,  two  i)raves  witii  their 
peltries  ai-e  aihnilted  to  llu'  trade-room. 
'I'liey  look  tlirou^h  the  jiratiuy,  point  to 
the  articles  they  want,  and  p.:y  for  Ihein 
in  installments.  if  au  Indian  were  to 
lirinu'  ii  hundred  skins  of  dill'ertMd  sorls, 
or  all  alike,  he  would  trade  oil'  every  skin 


notinces  thn)u<;h  a  loop-hole  that  there 
will  he  eiH)u<,'-|i  for  all.  Thus  the  trade 
pro^i'resses,  until  all  the  furs  and  i)rovis- 
ions  have  chauffed  haiuls,  and  there  re- 
mains nolliiuj.r  more  to  Ih>  traded.* 

The  nietliod  of  tradinj,''  for  hoi-ses  d(>- 
peuds  much  u))()n  the  humor  the  Indians 
ai'c  in  u])on  compl(>tion  of  the  (wchanye 
of  fioods  and  pelti'ies.  If  well  satislied, 
then  th(>  hor.se-tradiuj>'  takes  place  imme- 
diately outside  the  stockade,  the  animals 
heiny;  led  within  as  fast  as  purchased;  for 
the  Iu«liau's  line  sense  of  lunnor  frequent- 
ly leads  him  to  i-ide  away  a  hor.se  hi>  has 
just  sold,  hy  way  of  ])ractical  joke  u])on 
the  owner.      If  an  a;;jrressive   spirit   oh- 


TlSVl'fK.US    I.KVVIN.;    TllKll!    IllMlM;    CUlUMi!'. 


si>parately,  and  insist  on  pa.vuu'ut  foi-  each 
s!<in  as  he  sohl  it.      lu  this  way  he  seems  ' 
to  yt't  more  for  his  moiu-v. 

The  trade  piH)>jiv.sses  hi'iskly,  the  pur-  , 
chasers  iH'iuir  ivturued  to  the  Indiaii-nioni  I 
as  siHUi  as  supplieil,  and  a  new  hatcli  let  in.  i 
lu  the  Indian-i'oom  there  is  terrihie  ixcite-  . 
n\ent.      As  each  couple  ap(H'ars  with  their 
puiH'huses  they  aiv  eaii'erly  tiuestionetl  as  i 
to  what  they  saw,  wliether  thei-e  is  any  of 
this  or  that  artic!".  and  whether  the  sup-  ' 
ply  is  likely  to  Ih'  exhausted  iK'foiv  the  \ 
(iuestii>uer's  turn  arrives.      Each  succ^mhI- 
iuiT  statement  tliat  theiv  aiv  on  the  shelves 
hut  a  few  iTuns.  hlankets,  cloths,  etc.,  in- 
tensities the  anxiety,  aiul  the  crush  to  yet 
in  iucreast^-s  tenfold,  until  the  trader  an- 


taius,  howeviM",  a  single  hrave  with  his 
pony  or  ponies  is  admitted  at  a  time  with- 
in the  stockade,  the  trade  ctl'ected,  and  the 
owner  paid  and  passeil  out  l)efore  the  ad- 
mi>sion  of  a  .sei-ond. 

As  iK'fore  stated,  the  method  of  tradinu' 
in  the  N(M'tlu>rn  districts  ditlers  from  that 
pursiu>d  upon  the  plain.  It  is  the  custom 
of  the  Company  to  is.siu'  to  the  ti'appin<;- 
or  wood  Indians  siu'h  irooils  as  they  n.eed 
when  the  siuumer  su|)plies  arrive  at  the 
tradiinr  posts,  su.-h  advam-es  to  l)e  paid 
for  at  the  close  of  the  huntinsr  stnisnn. 

•  Tlu"  ostalilislunont  i>f  moiintiMl  poliof  station- 
throii'Tliout  ;x  I'onsiili'niMo  |M)i-ti(>i\  uf  the  plain  \.\w\\- 
trv  of  lato  voars  lias  toniliM  in  loini-  nicasuro  to  i!io<ii- 
fv  tills  mt'tliD'l  of  tiuile  at  soiiio  of  tlio  [wst:^. 


\ 


THE  HONORABLE  HUDSON  BAY  COMPANY. 


27 


TUB   I1AI..VN0E   OK   TKAllK. 

Ill  this  wiiy  a  yfroiit  minority  of  tlio  Iiuliiui 
iiiid  lialf-l)i'(H>(l  ImiitiM's  and  ti-appcrs  ivally 
live  ill  a  state  of  pcoiiajiv  to  tlie  Coiupaiiy. 
Like  tlic  Mexican  or  Brazilian  peon,  tliey 
arc  so  coiistaiitiy  and,  for  tlicni,  larjj'cly 
ill  debt  to  till'  Fur  Trade  as  to  l)c  jmicti- 
caiiy  its  servants.  By  tliis  .system  of  ad- 
vances llie  Coni])any  rules  its  vast  terri- 
tories, and  may  he  said  to  feed,  clotlie.  and 
wliolly  maintain  nine-tentlis  of  the  entire 
population.  The  continuance  of  the  sys- 
tem is  caused  hy  the  nei'essitiesof  the  hunt- 
ers and  ti'ap])ers,  many  of  whom  it  jire- 
serves  from  absolute  starvation. 

About  the  first  of  November,  when  the 
animals  liave  frot  their  winter  coats,  and 
fur  is  "  in  season."  the  Im'.ian  traiijier  lays 
out  his  trcppiny  walk  for  the  winter, 
alony  whit  'i  he  ])laces  a  line  of  trajis 
from  ten  to  fifteen  miles  in  lentrth.  Once 
or  twice  a  week  he  makes  the  round  of 
tliis  walk,  and  jrathers  such  furs  as  may 
l)e  caun-ht.  Most  of  the  tiner  furs  are 
taken  by  means  of  tlie  wooden  dead-fall 
and  stccl-traps  of  various  sizes,  the  Uuxer 


fur -bearing'  animals  i)(>iny  (Mth.r  shot, 
cauj^ht  in  snares,  or  killed  by  the  jioison- 
ed  bait. 

Toward  the  latter  end  of  ]\rarcli  llie  In- 
dian trai)i)ersl(>ave  tlieirhuntinj'fi'i'ounds, 
and  make  a  journey  to  tlie  forts  with  tlie 
produce  of  their  winter's  toil.     Here  they 
come,  moving'  tlirou<rh  the  forest,  a  mot- 
ley thronp^.     The  bi'aves  march 
in  front,  too  ))roud  and  lazy  to 
carrj'  any  tliin<i'  but  their  y:uns, 
and  not  always  doin<jeven  that. 
After  them  come  the  st^uaws, 
li'Midiny    under    loads,  driving" 
dof;s,    or    haulin^if    hand -sleds 
laden    with  meat,  furs,  tanned 
deer-skins,   and    infants.       Tlu; 
])ui)py  do<>'  an<l  inevitable  baby 
never  fail   in   Indian   lodye  or 
|)r()ces.>ion.      The  chetM'fnl  spec- 
tacle of  the  two  piicked  to}>'etli- 
er  u])on  the  back  of  a  woman 
is  not  of  infreipient  occurrence. 
Day    after    day    the    monf^rel 
,f"  pai't,y   journeys    on,   until    the 

fort  is  reacluHl.  Then  comt>s 
the  trade.  The  trader  separates 
the  furs  into  lots,  ])laciny  the  .standard 
valuation  upon  each.  Then  he  adds  the 
amounts  together,  and  infoims  the  tra])- 
])er  that  he  has  jifot  si.xty  or  seventy 
"skins."  At  the  same  time  he  hands  his 
customer  sixty  or  seventy  little  bits  of 
wood,  so  that  the.  latter  niav  know,  bv  re- 


OAUK    KOll    \    SUM    tMll.VN. 


/a 


''■'-'nii»Ljj.aH'aiMjiji««_.i  miig-.j'.' 


28 


HARPER'S  NEW  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE. 


5,c:> 


turiiiiifir  tlioso  in  ])iiy- 
iiu'iil  for  the  fjodds  for 
wliicli  lie  really  barters 
his  furs.  Just  how  fast       j*^'';K*^* 

liisfuiuls decrease.  Tlie       ( ^  ^    v 

lirst  aet  of  tlie  liuliaii  is  "~  °^ 

to  cancel  the  debt  contracti'd  for  iidvances 
at  the  be<i'innin}ir  of  the  season;  then  lie 
looks  round  \\\w\\  the  bales  of  cloth.  l)lank- 
ets,  etc.,  and  after  a 
Ions'  while  concludes 
to  have  a  small  white 
capote  for  his  toddliiift- 
boy.  The  ])rice  is  told 
him,  and  he  hands  back 
ten  of  his  little  ])iecesof 
wood,  then  looks  about 
him  for  something els(!. 
Every  thintj  is  careful- 
ly examined,  and  with 
each  ])urchase  there  is 
a  contest  over  the  ap- 
parent inequality  be- 
tween the  amount  re- 
ceivetl  and  that  <iiven. 
In  the  Indian's  o])inion 
one  skin  shoi.Id  ;■  ly  for 
one  article  of  merchan- 
dise, no  matter  what  the 
value  of  the  latter  may 
be.  And  he  insists, 
too,  \\\)o\\  selectiuf^  the 
skin.  The  steelyard 
and  weishins'  balance 
are  his  especial  objects 
of  dislike.  He  does  not 
know  what  medicine 
that  is.  That  his  tea 
and  su<,'-ar  should  be  balanced  against  a 
bit  of  iron,  conveys  no  id(>a  of  the  relative 
values  of  peltries  and  merchandise  to  him. 
He  insists  upon  makin<i:  the  balance  swiny 
even  between  the  trader's  goods  and  hi: 
own  furs,  until  a  new  light  is  thrown  ujioii 
the  question  of  steelyards  and  .scales  by 
the  acceptance  of  his  propositim.  Then, 
when  lie  finds  his  fine  furs  balanced 
against  heavy  blankets,  he  concludes  to 
abide  by  the  old  method  of  letting  the 
white  trader  decide  the  weight  in  his  own 
way;  for  it  is  clear  that  the  steelyard  is  a 
very  great  medicine,  which  iro  brave  can 
understand. 

When  the  trapper  has  spent  all  his  lit- 
tle pieces  <<f  wood,  and  asks  for  further 
advances,  he  is  allowed  to  draw  any  rea- 
sonable amount;  for,  contrary  to  the  rule 
in  civilized  life,  a  debt  is  seldom  lo.st  save 
bv  the  death   (if   i\\v   Indian.     Ho   may 


K^^^^^^C^ 


'\^J^' 


^mm 


change  bis  ])lace  of  abode  hun- 
dreds of  miles,  but  he  still  has 
only  a  Comjiany's  po.st  at  which  to 
trade.  The  Company  lias  always 
been  a  good  friend  to  him  iind  his, 
and  he  Jiays  when  he  can.  He 
knows  that  when  he  li(iuidates  his 
old  debt,  he  can  contract  a  new  one 
just  as  big.  No  attemjit  was  ever 
made  to  cheat 
him,  and  there 
never  will  be. 
When  he  is  ill 
he  goes  to  the 
nearest  fort,  and 
is  cared  for  and 
atti'iided  until 
he  recovers. 
Wlien  he  does 
his  duty  well  he 


TIIK    (IIIKAT    M>IITIIK,UN    I'AllKKT. 

gets  a  present,  and  he  never  performs  any 
labor  without  receiving  fairc()m|)ensation. 
Such  humane  treatment  strongly  binds  the 
Indian  and  half-breed  to  the  Company. 


-,^.  .„■„..   L. -.»-■—   .... 


\ 


\. 


THE  HONORABLE  HUDSON  BAY  COMPANY. 


29 


1' 


Coinnniiiicatioii  is  maintaiiKHl  l)('two(>n 
cvci-y  post  ill  tht'  vast  tci-ritory  and  licad- 
(|iiarters  (liii'iii<f  the  loii};  inoiitlis  of  win- 
ter by  iii(>aiis  of  the  Great  Northern  Pack- 
et. Avliicli  leaves  Fort  trarry  annually 
ahont  the  lOth  December.  The  a])])!!- 
aiices  for  tlit^  carriaffe  of  tliis  iinportant 
mail  are  snow-shoes  and  dof^'  sledfjes. 
Tiie  latter  are  two  in  number,  driuvn  by 
four  (lo<rs  each.  Upon  each  of  these 
sledjfes  there  are  bound  a  i)air  of  .stoutly 
constructed  boxes,  measui'inji;'  about  three 
feet  in  lenjjtii  by  ei}>;'hteen  inches  deej)  and 
fourteen  widi'.  These  wooden  niail-ba<:rs, 
when  properly  packed,  contain  an  aston- 
ishing amount  of  written  and  printed  mat- 
t(>r.     The  dojfs  run 

ataregular  trot,  the  ~> 

drivers  accompany- 
in<i,'  them  on  foot  at 
the  rate  of  about 
forty  miles  jier  day. 
Tiie  frozen  channels 
of  the  rivers  and 
lalci's  form  the  fjen- 
eral  roadway,  and 
Lake  Winnipeo:  is 
ti'a  versed  to  Fort 
C'arlton,  near  the 
eastern  end  of  the 
Saskatchewan  Val- 
ley, the  chief  centre 
of  the  winter  pack- 
et arraiifyements. 
Here  the  entire  mail 
is  overhauled  and 
repacked,  branch 
packets  beiiijf  sent 
off  east  and  west, 
while  the  Great 
Northern  Packet 
journeys  on  to  tlie 

remote  arctic  rejjions  to  which  it  is  con- 
sifjiied.  From  the  morniiifr  wlieii  the 
packet  left  the  office  at  Fort  Garry  to  the 
eveniiijr  when  tlie  .solitary  dofj'  train,  last 
of  many,  drajj^s  the  same  packet,  now  re- 
duced to  a  tiny  bundle,  into  the  inclosure 
of  La  Pierre's  house,  move  than  a  hun- 
dred nijrhts  have  been  passed  in  the  ji'reat 
northern  forests;  over  three  thousand 
miles  have  been  traversed  ;  a  score  of  tlif- 
ferent  dog'  trains  have  hauled  it,  sendinjf 
ott'  at  loner  intervals  branch  doj;  packets 
to  the  riji'lit  and  left.  It  was  midwinter 
when  it  started;  it  arrives  just  as  the  sun- 
sliiiie  of  mid-May  is  bejriiiniii<i"  to  carry  a 
faint  whisper  of  comiiifr  spring  to  the  val- 
leys of  the  Ui)i)er  Yukon. 


NEWij   OF   TIIK   DAV, 


In  former  days  all  excess  in  the  amount 
of  mail  matter  transmitted  throuj,fh  tlu^ 
winter  packets  was  .so  jealously  {jruarded 
ajyaiiist  that  the  carriajje  of  iievvs])a))ers 
was  disallowed,  with  the  sinyle  excejition 
of  an  annual  file  of  tlu>  Montreal  fjitzrttc. 
forwarded  for  ffeneral  ))erusal.  The  fifty- 
two  copies  of  that  periodical  circulated 
over  that  vast  country  from  |)o,st  to  jiost, 
until,  worn  out  by  much  service,  they  tin- 
ished  their  course  in  a  lonely  station  in 
latitude  07^  lii}'  north.  At  this  date,  how- 
ever, news))ai)ers  form  the  bulk  of  the 
Company's  inward-bound  i)acket. 

In  the  month  of  Ajiril  the  whole  foicc^ 
at  eacli  of  the  Company's  jxists  bcftin  to 
l)ack  the  furs  accu- 
i  ,/^  __  mulated  during  the 

^'^^>  -'.  winter  into  bales  of 

from  eighty  to  on(> 
liuiidred  jiounds 
weight.  The  outer 
covering  is  general- 
ly of  buffalo  or  oth- 
er large  skins.  If  it 
be  an  inland  ])ost, 
looi)s  are  made  to 
each  ])ackag«^  in  or- 
der to  sling  it  ujion 
a  ])ack  -  saddle  ;  if 
upon  a  navigable  stream, 
boats  are  used  instead  of 
lior.ses.  This  is  call' d  iit- 
ting  (mt  a  i)rigade,  a.d  con- 
stitutes the  grand  aiiiuuil 
event  in  the  traders' and  em- 
ployes' lives.  Their  destina 
lion  is  the  ('epot  fort  of  the 
district,  there  to  meet  the 
boat  brigades  bringing  th<^ 
yearly  sui)])lies.  When  the 
dejxjt  is  ree.ched,  the  furs  are 
debarked,  and  the  various  goods  to  supjjly 
the  trade  until  a  similar  exchange  next 
year  are  handed  over  to  the  trader,  who 
genci'ally  goes  in  charge  of  the  brigade. 
These  tri])s  occu])y  from  two  to  four 
months.  The  meeting  of  these  brigades 
at  the  depot  presents  a  quaint  and  singular 
spectacle.  Tlie  wild  look,  long,  unkempt 
hair,  sunburned  faces,  and  leather  cos- 
tumes of  the  traders  are  only  exceeded  by 
the  still  wilder  ai)])earance  and  absence  of 
almost  any  clothing  among  their  Indian 
attendants.  The  scene  while  the  bi'igadcs 
remain  is  one  continuous  orgy. 

When  the  brigades  depart  for  their  sev- 
eral destinations,  the  furs  are  forwarded 
by  boat  to  the  gi-eat  de])ot  forts  on  the 


no 


HARPER'S  NEW  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE. 


scii-coiist.  wluMv  llicy  arc  all  sorted  ami  |  Unifecl  States,  and  to  tlic  Caiiadas;  and 
r<'])ack('d.    hcint;    pressed    into    l)ales    by  !  occasionally    furs    are    exported    hy   the 


enormous    levers,  and    rtnn   and   tohacco 
are  placed  Ix'tween  the  layers  of  skins  to 
keep  out  the  in.sects  and  larvie  of  moths. 
TlK'y  are  then  loaded  on  the  Company's 
ships,  which   annual- 
ly hrinji'out  the  stores 
from    England,    ant 
are  eventually  sold  at 
puhlic  auction.      The 
sales  in  London  alone 
amount  to  more  than 
.s|, 0(1(1, (l(  10  pcrannum. 
and  this  forms  hut  ii 
small  part  of  the  year- 
ly  returns    fi-om    the 
C*ompany"s       territo- 
ries, lai'H'e   (|uantities 
heini;'  exported  to  tlu- 
(.'ontinent.      to       the 


Company  to  China. 

The  annual  sui>ply  of  its  va.st  chain  of 
tradin;i:  posts  with  mercliandise  is  a  ma* 
ter  of  vital  im]»ortanee  to  the  Comjjany. 


l^ 


^'v.^ 


MKKTINli    OK    ItOATS    ANll    ISI.AMI    TIIAINH. 


THE  HONORABLE  HUDSON  BAY  COMPANY. 


31 


) 


-,. 

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w»  ^^^A.  ■^aW^.'^SWHIutA 

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«^--^'      s"-, 

I  Vflftmlf '    iJfifJT 

•TifT^^^  mr '"T-^^>^^'^^ 

H^^lfe?^ 

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MAKlN(i   A   riiUTAin:. 


>  p 


and  is  pondiu'tcd  with  a  care  and  system 
dcvotod  to  no  otlicr  l)i'anfli  of  its  tra(l<>. 
Early  in  .Tune  ofcacli  year  the  Coni]tany"s 
siiijjs  leave  the  Thames  for  the  fur  eoun- 
try.  It  is  the  end  of  iViij^ust  when  they 
land  at  York  Factory,  on  Hudson  Bay. 
For  one  year  the  jfooils  tlH>y  have  hroujjht 
lie  in  the  warelu)uses  of  the  factory  : 
twelve  months  later  they  reach  Norway 
House;  twelve  months  later,  ajrain,  th(>y 
i-eacli  Fort  Simpson,  t)n  the  Mackenzie. 
The  furs  far  which  they  are  exchanged 
ivacli  London  by  similar  stages  in  three 
s  more;  so  that  si.\  years  ela])se  from 
the  date  of  the  de|)arture  of  the  rouyh 
tlint-fjfun  to  the  return  of  the  skin  of 
sable  for  .vhich  it  has  i)een  bartered. 

The  supi)lies  brouffht,  out  by  the  ships 
are  distributed  to  the  interior  ))osts  by 
means  of  what  are  called  "  inland  boats." 
Shaped  like  an  ordinary  whale-boat,  they 
carry  a  burden  of  three  and  a  half  tons, 
and  reijuirc  nine  men  as  crew.      A  num- 


l)er  of  these  boats  constitute  a  brifi'ade. 
each  of  which  is  i)laced  in  charffe  of  a 
fjuide.  The.se  brif;ades.  leaving'  Fort  Oai'- 
ry  in  June,  t<Mul  north  and  northwest  to- 
ward Methy  Porta<;e  and  York  Factory, 
there  to  meet  other  brigades  from  the  re- 
mote arctic  disti'icts.  to  whom  they  deliv- 
er their  cargoes,  receiving  in  reUn-n  the 
furs  brought  down  from  the  interior 
])osts.  When  tliis  exchange  is  ett'e<'ted. 
each  brigade  reti'aces  its  coui'se. 

On  many  of  the  streams  traversed  by 
these  brigades  navigation  is  s  'riously  in- 
terrupted by  rapids,  water-falls,  and  cata- 
racts, to  surmount  which  the  boats  with 
their  cargoes  have  to  be  landed  and  cai'- 
ried  roun<l  the  obstruction,  to  b(  relaunch- 
ed at  the  nearest  practicable  jioint.  Again, 
it  occurs  that  a  height  of  land  is  reached, 
across  which  the  boats  and  cargoes  must 
be  dragged  in  order  to  descend  the  oi)po- 
site  stream.  Li  either  event  the  oi)era- 
tion    is  known  as  "  nudcing  u  portage." 


/^J^-' 


VDVAUiiUHS'    OAMl'. 

Tlie  staiulfvrd  weig-lit  of  eiu-li  packao'e  used 
in  tlio  fur  ti'ade  is  one  huiidriHl  pounds, 
t'acli  boat  coiitaininfj  soveiity-iivo  '"  inland 
pieces,"  as  sudi  packajfos  are  called.  In 
crossing  a  portaj^c  each  voyaofeur  is  sup- 
posed equal  to  the  task  of  cari'yiu}?  two 
inlajul  i)ieces  upon  his  back.  A  broad 
leather  .strap,  called  a  '"  i)orta{;:e  straj),"  is 
placed  round  the  forehead,  the  ends  of 
which  strap,  passinjf  back  over  the  shoul- 
ders, sup|)()rt  the  pieces,  which,  thus  car- 
I'ied,  lie  alonjr  the  s])ine  from  the  .small 
of  the  back  to  the  crown  of  the  head. 
The  de])arture  of  these  boat  brifjades  on 
their  long  trips  forms  a  very  picturesque 
spectacle.  The  boats  are  decked  in  holi- 
day attire:  small  red  flays,  streainiiifj:  en- 
signs, fj^audy  ribbons,  and  the  spreadin<; 
antlei"S  of  moose  and  elk  apjwar  every 
where  above  th<^  s(iuai"e  ])acka{;fes  of 
freifj^ht.  Conjfre<fated  upon  the  l)each  ai-e 
the  wives  and  sweethearts  of  the  boatmen, 
who  have  come  to  bid  them  adieu. 


The  voyag'eiu'.s  of  the  Company  are 
jrenerally  of  French  extraction,  de- 
scendants of  the  ti"a])])ers  and  ti-ad- 
ers  of  the  old  Northwest  C'  vrpany. 
Their  g'randfathers  were  French  Cana- 
dians, their  grandmothers  Cree  and 
Chipi)ewa  scpiaws.  A  merry,  lifflit- 
hearted  race,  they  are  recklessly  (>en- 
ei'ous,  hos))itable,  and  extravajjant.  In 
the  sunnuer  they  pull  an  oar  in  the  boat 
brijyades;  in  the  winter  they  vary  .seasons 
of  luuitin<>-  with  lon^'cr  intervals  of  total 
idleness.  Vanity  is  their  besetting'  sin, 
and  they  will  leave  themselves  and  their 
families  without  the  common  necessaries 
of  life  to  beconu>  the  envied  jjossessoi-s 
of  a  haiulsome  suit,  a  gun.  or  a  (I'ain  of 
dogs,  which  nuiy  ha))pen  to  attract  their 
fancy.  Intensely  superstitious,  and  firm 
believers  in  dreams,  omens,  and  warn- 
ings, they  are  apt  disciples  of  the  Romish 
faith.  Comi)letely  under  the  influence 
of  the  priests  in  most  respects,  and  ob- 
.serving  the  outward  forms  of  religion 
with  great  regularity,  they  are  ,y  et  gross- 
ly innnoral,  often  dislioiu'st.  and  general- 
ly untru.stworthy.  But  as  hunters,  guides, 
and  voyageurs  they  ai*e  uneipialled.  Of 
more  ))owerful  build,  as  a  rule,  than  the 
pure  iTulian.  they  are  his  equal  in  endur- 
ance aiul  readiness  of  resource. 


